The Scout

Chapter - 10

Chapter 10
The Scout-
'Lightning bolts & bugs'

Amy & Ty picked up their things, walked another mile then climbed up & found a cozy & hidden place to camp. They set up their tent, & started a fire. Amy saw how tired Ty was, she tucked him into bed for a nap. She found some wildflowers & their leaves, herbs and mushrooms. She made them a salad, and poured a dressing over top of honey with wild herbs, & blended into crushed Saskatoon berries. Ty remembered Amy telling him she wasn't much of a cook, but everything she made with simple ingredients from the forest was amazing and elegant. Every day Ty was intrigued with Amy's skills. She was an awesome cook, adding a few herbs to a dish he was preparing and made it more tasty. In many ways Amy was a simple girl, but so aware & in tune with nature and respecting their harmony with it. Her grandpa had taught her the ways of the forest; the mighty oaks, humble aspen, and stately hickory. She knew where to search for berries, and edible grasses.
Her neighbor, Mrs Bell told her about the immune system of the honeybee. The inside walls of their hives are coated with an ever changing recipe of various tree saps, which kill microorganisms attacking the hive. Amy noticed an entrenched wisdom in nature, and always tried to learn from it.

Amy found wild asparagus and sautéd them in a blueberry purée.  She used her bow & arrow & got a rabbit for dinner.  She cleaned & roasted it on sticks over the fire. Ramirez had sent some breadsticks that Ty loved. Amy noticed how the young supply Sergeant sent little things that Ty liked on each supply drop. She also included nice things for Amy, like a tiny tablecloth, and somehow found a small photograph of Main St in Downtown Hudson; Amy's hometown. Amy loved that little photo & kept it in her shirt pocket; it evoked many fond memories of her family & friends. She often stared at the little Diner on the left side of the street called Maggie's. She imagined being inside & listening to all the happy voices of those she loved. She so looked forward to taking Ty there someday and introducing him to everyone.

Dinner was almost ready, Amy quietly peered into the tent and watched Ty sleeping. She could look at him by the hour; he was so handsome. Amy wondered what Ty's friend Clint had really been like. Ty described him as a humble but mighty man who worked for the People of Alberta. It seemed Clint was like a 2nd father to Ty, & who loved Ty like a son. Amy could see the influence of Clint, Jennifer, and the military on Ty's life. She wondered if Ty's respect for everyone came from Clint; perhaps he learned how to treat a woman from Jen's influence, and she saw how the military had chiseled bravery & confidence into her young Marine. Amy leaned down and kissed him, she was thankful for all the people who helped to mold Ty into the man that lay in front of her.

Amy hoped that someday, if she ever got back home to Hudson, her people would see how Ty had helped her become a better person. She smiled and imagined walking into Maggie's, holding Ty's hand, and introducing him to Soraya and her mom. She could also see Ty smiling politely to Soraya and calling Maggie, Ma'am. He was so formal and proper sometimes, she guessed that came from Clint, but also from the military, with all their yes sirs & no sirs, Ma'am's, salutes, and knowing when to be quiet and stand at attention. She had noticed from early on how Ty stood and walked tall and straight. He always helped her across a stream, and waited for her to take the first bite at dinner. Her Grandfather did that with her Grandma Lyndy. He treated her like a lady. Amy assumed those little relics of respect and kindness were passé, but Ty used them with her all the time.

Amy smiled when she recalled Ty taking his coat off & zipping her into it, in the Rebel Camp. Feeling the warmth of his jacket and his manly smell, she immediately noticed this man was someone special. She began to fall in love with Ty that night. He didn't even know her, but Ty fussed over her cut finger, and swollen foot. He carried her for miles. She noticed little things, like at night, he always let her crawl into the sleeping bag first, asked if she was ok made sure she was tucked in and warm. Occasionally if she had to pee in the middle of the night, Ty always went with her, turning his back and not looking, but he was always there, like a sentry, standing guard and protecting her.